Welcome to the Neighbourhood 🤍
A very special photographic project led by me in collaboration with 3 inspiring groups of secondary school students in Dublin 8 & Dublin 12.✨
I’m very honoured to announce we will be holding a ‘point in time’ exhibition in IMMA’s Artist Studios on May 22nd-23rd 2025. This work will then be a part of the inaugural exhibitions of work in the new children’s hospital once completed.
This project is funded by the Community Benefit Fund Committee for the new children’s hospital and Children’s Health Foundation.
Thank you to Michael Simpson @mikewsimpson for the wonderful invite design 👌
Launch: Thursday 22nd of May 2025 4.30pm-7pm
Open to public: Friday 23rd of May 10am-4pm
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@childrenshealthirl@childrens_health_foundation
Reflecting on such an amazing, pinch me moment exhibiting in IMMA for the Welcome to the Neighbourhood project 🤍 words from my launch speech below to further explain the process..
“Upon receiving this commission back in September 2024, I was given the task of through photography, finding a sense of place of the local area surrounding the new children’s hospital. As an Artist, my job was to try and get the transition year students to explain to me what their concept of it was, so we could create a visual art piece for all of the visitors coming in and out of the new children’s hospital. How could we create an uplifting depiction of Dublin 8 and Dublin 12?
The creative process behind this was very much directed by the students. We began the sessions by brainstorming about the local area, where they hang out, eat, walk past on route to and from school and where they have made memories in the past, then we took the cameras to these places and the students documented visually from their own unique perspectives.
These students are all digital natives, they have had interaction with social media and digital platforms most of their childhood and teen years. As social media holds it’s own language for them, a generation of digitally literate students communicating through images daily, it was important for me to incorporate tangible forms of image-making. By using 35mm cameras and Polaroid film, it slowed down the process of the immediacy they are so used to with image making. It reminded me of the importance of printing, how different our own reflection becomes when something is real and tactile in front of us.
For me it’s not solely about trying to inspire these young people in pursuing a career in art or photography, it is about encouraging the creativity within them and allowing them a space to be expressive at this pivotal time in their lives.
A bonus for me is leaving knowing that I have sparked an interest in even one individuals’ life and possibly inspire their own future creative endevours. As well as bringing hope and joy to the individuals visiting in the hospital that will get to experience this special body of work.”
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This trip was a real treat, a time to be present and reflect on the months gone by. Sharing this time and space with a wonderful bunch of fellow creative minded people - we ate, we laughed, we chatted, wandered, reflected and appreciated this breath together.
I left feeling lighter, and it reminded me of the bright side of existing in this trying time as a freelancer, leaving me encouraged to keep going, keep making and appreciate what I’ve achieved. To keep exploring and capturing the beauty in the world, like Tuscany - which I will be sure to return to, for that unparalleled peace 🤍
These are the good days and I’m beyond grateful to have gotten this piece of calm, in the oasis of @villamamoitalia ✨ thank you to Fede & Louisa for welcoming and hosting us so kindly, to my new pals and to have shared this with @dominowhisker 🤍 A piece of magic that will stay with me always.
Headshots for the inimitable David Whelan, taking the lead role in @bordgaisenergytheatre for Oklahoma this summer. @davidwildyouth , it was a pleasure as always 💚
January explorations: expanding my Visual Arts practice - a fresh reflection on the world ✨
1. 1/2 through year one of my masters of Arts in Education in DCU!
2. Brent geese flocking through our winter skies
3. Intuitive, collaborative painting
4. Dollymount beach, textures of the land
5. Integrating paint with image
6. An original street lamp casting shadow in Marino
7. Busaras in the winter light
8. Crayon and paint with mock frame
9. Bilateral drawing
10. Colour mixing
11. Attempting a sketch a day
12. Texture on the beach stopped me in my tracks
13. Tools used for intuitive painting
14. Researching and reflecting @katy.hessel@olivialanguage@jordandervil
15. The first steps can be small..
Looking back at a wonderful 2025 🤍
Thanks to all of the amazing people I’ve worked with on this island, what talent we have. The above features my favourite moments with those makers, creators, designers, artists & all round gorgeous people. The simple moments, special moments and an array of everyday beauty particularly with the independent Dublin companies featured.
Also to acknowledge the youth of our island who I’ve had the unique opportunity to collaborate with, particularly through the Welcome to the Neighbourhood commission (more to come on that!) I look forward to many more lovely commissions and the work to come in the months ahead..
The final slide is from a special afternoon that bookended the year for me, speaking with and capturing the wonderful @farahelle who left me feeling hopeful, grateful and inspired in so many ways as I continue to embark on my Masters of Arts in Education ✨ Let’s go!
